Clarification is needed though, because if there isn't a gate, instructions that boil down to "drive until you see a gate" are very problematic!

There is, however, a large hump in the road that would cause problems for most 2WDs, right where the track splits off from Olive Plantation Rd. Immediately prior to that is where you should stop and park.

From Stapylton Campground drive west along Olive Plantation Road towards 'Grampians' Road. Park at the first left turn after about a kilometre at a sandy hump with a gate. These locked gates were recently installed at either end of the sandy access track (February 2009)

So to clarify the access instructions on thecrag, what need to change?

From Stapylton Campground drive west along Olive Plantation Road towards 'Grampians' Road. After about a kilometre, park at the first left turn at a sandy hump with a gate.

?

I used to just leave the car at Stapylton Campground and walk along the powerline cutting to the sandy road.

>It's been this way for years and years and years. I don't know why people>need to keep asking if they can drive past the gate.

1. Because I donít like walking
2. Because I was gonna bring my kids
3. Because I need to justify buying a 4wd
4. Because I donít like being told where not to go
5. Because Iím lazy
6. Because things change Ė closed gates open, open gates close, gates disappear, and Ďalternativeí access sometimes appears (like around every other gate...)
7. Because when I was a kid I liked to explore the world and the best places were always the ones I wasnít meant to go to

Thanks for the info, reckon Iíll give it a miss and just go make my own 4wd tracks somewhere else

The gate at the start of the track is there, but open. The track is all OK but very very sandy for a long section along the initial straight section. Best that you have a 4WD, or at least a AWD if you are going to drive the track. Park at the left hand turn. The track deteriorates significantly past the L turn.
The Guidebook/the Crag probably need updating. The track has been fixed up since the last big flood/rain erosion occurred; and now is obviously open. It was previously locked shut. But please drive carefully to minimise track damage and stay in the existing ruts. Car-pool to minimise the number of cars that drive the track.
Andrew's comments are still very much valid - climbing was nearly banned due to the concerns of the adjacent property owners. Don't give them reason to complain to Parks Victoria.

On 14/03/2017 MichaelOR wrote:>The gate at the start of the track is there, but open. The track is all>OK but very very sandy for a long section along the initial straight section.>Best that you have a 4WD, or at least a AWD if you are going to drive the>track. Park at the left hand turn. The track deteriorates significantly>past the L turn.>The Guidebook/the Crag probably need updating. The track has been fixed>up since the last big flood/rain erosion occurred; and now is obviously>open. It was previously locked shut. But please drive carefully to minimise>track damage and stay in the existing ruts. Car-pool to minimise the number>of cars that drive the track. >Andrew's comments are still very much valid - climbing was nearly banned>due to the concerns of the adjacent property owners. Don't give them reason>to complain to Parks Victoria.

Nup Michael. Situation with the track is still the same as it was before so theCrag/guidebook doesn't need updating. The gate is supposed to be closed but some locals prefer it to be unlocked for emergency vehicles so they unlock it. Climbers are supposed to park outside of it and walk in. Access notes are correct. Doesn't really matter if the gate is open or closed. The access notes for parking are to park outside of gate and walk in.
Cheers,Tracey

I had the 'pleasure' of the long, hot and sandy walk into The Ravine on Sunday.
Unfortunately your message is falling on deaf ears. The gate was open and there were a couple of cars at/near the track off to The Ravine; not to mention one party also camping there. Perhaps for everyone's sake, a sign could be erected on or near Olive Plantation Road. It would be a crying shame if access to this brilliant sport climbing area is compromised.

On 20/03/2017 jdb wrote:>Hi Tracey (All),>>I had the 'pleasure' of the long, hot and sandy walk into The Ravine on>Sunday.>Unfortunately your message is falling on deaf ears. The gate was open>and there were a couple of cars at/near the track off to The Ravine; not>to mention one party also camping there. Perhaps for everyone's sake, a>sign could be erected on or near Olive Plantation Road. It would be a crying>shame if access to this brilliant sport climbing area is compromised.>>My 20 cents worth.>>JDB

Hi JDB,

Thanks for taking note of the access notes that are available on all the relevant sites for your walk in to the Ravine. I'm not going to go into a long ramble about the Ravine and it's history as it's on here somewhere and besides Chockstone doesn't like long rambles anymore. In short -

A sign was placed there in early days. It was removed.

Quite a lot of work went into the original negotiations, that involved dealing with some upset park users. Believe me, the outcome was a good one. At some point, climbers
need to take responsibility and accept that their actions could have consequences. If you check the sites for route info, no excuse not to check the access notes. It should go hand in hand. Don't use the excuse that because someone else is doing it, it must be okay. And share the right info.

Deaf ears seems to cover a variety of things that even include seeing gates closed(not Ravine specific, Grampians overall) and deciding to drive around it. And then often, promoting that fact.

Ravine seems to be off the radar now access wise, so people assume it will always be so and act accordingly. That doesn't give me or whoever goes into bat for the community much to go into bat with should the time ever arise.

I will revisit the access notes when I have time but to be honest, there are other sites that are requiring education for ongoing and sustainable climbing, that have previously not had work done on them.

Thanks for your thoughts JDB. It is much appreciated. And actually, this is a bit of a ramble. If you're seeing it, Chockstone has been kind.

On 23/03/2017 One Day Hero wrote:>There are heaps of selfish little arseholes in the climbing community,>but I bet that there are some people driving in there who genuinely don't>know the access history.>>You can't expect climbers from other bits of the country to be on top>of the current access situation at your local crags. Sounds like that gate>needs a big sign.>
Yep, international climbers are always harder to get the info to. Access notes are still on the sites and books if they are looking for route info though. As noted in my previous post, there was a sign but it was removed. And not by the land managers. Maybe somewhere down the line, we will try again, budget permitting.